Presidential aspirant, Mr. Christmas Akpodiete.In September, Akpodiete filed an action before the court asking for the
determination of some fundamental rights questions in law on the
constitutionality of political parties charging exorbitant nominations fees.
Akpodiete is of the opinion that the N45 million naira nomination fees is
unconstitutional null and void and an attempt by the Nigeria political
oligarchs to make nonsense of the just recently passed not too young to
run law.
Akpodiete is asking the court to declare the just concluded party
primaries null and void, for gross violation of the fundamental human
right to participate in the governance of Nigeria and run for public
office as enshrined in extant laws, including the recently enacted Not Too
Young To Run Law.
He’s also praying the court to order political parties to give a level
playing field to all Nigerians so as to enable citizens who earn minimum
wage to participate in the electoral process with a view to participating
in the governance of Nigeria.
Akpodiete stated that it is trite law that any rules or regulations that
violate citizens’ fundamental rights are void. He emphasized that
regulations, laws and policies must be people-oriented as obtainable
globally.
Quoting Martin Luther King, he said..”Our lives begin to end, when we sit
and do nothing about oppression”…
He said “he has confidence that the court will correct this illegality”…